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The transition was a coordinated ballet of order and efficiency. Jhon's soldiers, ruthless in their training, now demonstrated their efficiency in organization. The new arrivals, some hungry and wounded, were directed to the feeding modules and the infirmary, while others, more capable, were quickly assigned to basic duties. Jhon's system worked like clockwork.
Within hours, the bus housed over a thousand people. The Dark Elves mingled with humans and other elves, a new society forming within the metal structure. Jhon could feel the weight of every life, every hope, every fear now under his protection.
"Loli, what does the radar indicate now? More people approaching?", Jhon asked, his eyes fixed on the projection that showed the highway and the surroundings.
Loli adjusted the screen. "The flow has slowed considerably, Jhon. There are only a few scattered signs of isolated individuals, but no cohesive groups approaching. Most of those who were able to reach us are already here. We can assume that everyone who accepted your offer is on board."
John nodded. He had gathered an army of survivors. This wasn't the end of the game, but the true beginning.
"I've already waited for everyone. No one else will come," Jhon said, his voice firm, echoing through the cabin speakers. "Loli, prepare the Leviathan. Let's go to the trading posts."
The bus responded to his command. The gates closed, the floatation systems stabilized, and the silent giant began moving again, gliding smoothly over the cracked asphalt of the highway. It no longer looked like a bus, or even a train. It was a city in motion, an ark of hope in the midst of a devastated world.
The journey to the trading posts promised to be long and dangerous. But John was no longer alone. He had an army of survivors, his harem, and a vehicle that was an impenetrable fortress.
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The journey to the trading posts became a testament to the new reality within the Leviathan. The days became a routine of self-sufficiency and militarized training. At each strategic stop, Jhon led the hunting teams. He didn't just assign tasks; he actively participated, his Mythic Katanas a blur of destruction against the beasts that dared cross their path.
With Jhon at the helm, the hunting parties, now composed of elite soldiers and newly recruited soldiers who showed aptitude, became machines of efficiency. They learned to move silently, to track, ambush, and slaughter the mutant creatures that infested the landscape. Jhon was ruthless in his training. If anyone hesitated, he was there, with a look that promised consequences, or a scolding that cut like a razor.
"There's no room for fear here! Fear kills! Hesitation kills!" John growled at a recruit who had frozen in front of a Stalker. "You have to react, fight, or die! And if you die, you put your comrades at risk!"
Their words, harsh and cruel, were forged in the reality of the outside world. And, little by little, the fear of monsters began to be replaced by the fear of disappointing Jhon, a fear that, paradoxically, made them stronger. The farmers learned to shoot. The cooks learned to defend themselves. The women, though not on the front lines of combat, underwent self-defense exercises and basic weapon handling.
Every monster meat Jhon slaughtered was immediately sent to the Leviathan's meat locker. Mentally, Jhon sent the command to Loli: "Multiply meat by fifty." And magically, the amount of meat in the bus's storage multiplied, ensuring that the growing population, which already exceeded a thousand and continued to grow as more lone survivors were found and rescued, was always well fed.
The Dark Elves, with their vitality diminished but their intelligence and cunning intact, proved adaptable and loyal. They integrated quickly, valuing the security and abundance that Leviathan offered. The other peoples, with their unique traits and abilities, also found their place, strengthening the community with their contributions.
For nearly four days, this routine of travel and training continued. The streets and highways of the ancient civilization flashed past the 4D projections in the windows, now populated by an organized vision of life. Passengers in vehicles Jhon had upgraded rode in formation, escorting the Leviathan, a small vanguard fleet.
The transformation was remarkable. Those who had boarded the bus, once frightened and disorganized, were becoming a cohesive body of soldiers. Discipline was becoming inherent. They were no longer just survivors; they were a force, an army in formation under the command of a leader who was more than human. John had transformed a crowd into a people, and a people into a survival machine.
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On the fifth day, with the sun already high in the sky, Loli announced to Jhon: "Jhon, we're approaching the trading posts. The first major remaining concentration of civilization. Energy signatures indicate a well-established market structure, protected by barriers and other life signatures, but also some C- and B-Rank monsters patrolling the outskirts."
Jhon nodded, his gaze fixed on the 4D projection showing a cluster of tall buildings with makeshift walls and watchtowers. It was one of the rare bastions of ancient civilization that had managed to hold together. He felt the anticipation. Billions of gold coins waited to be exchanged for resources that would take the Leviathan to even greater heights.
He looked at his inventory again, remembering the gift.
Celestial Power Core x1 (MYTHIC): A crystal of pure energy, condensed from the essence of a collapsing star. Can be used to enhance any legendary or mythical item, or consumed for an exponential stat boost. It possesses a clean, divine energy, in contrast to demonic energy. Grants a subtle connection to the 'Celestial Essence'.
The decision regarding the Celestial Power Core was still pending. Jhon knew it would be a game-changer. He could feel the power emanating from it, a stark contrast to the demonic energy now coursing through his veins.
"Loli, maintain stealth mode," Jhon ordered. "I don't want them to know our true capabilities ahead of time. Just a discreet entrance. When we're within a kilometer, deactivate invisibility. I want them to see what we are. And prepare communications. I want to speak with the leaders of these trading posts."
"Understood, Jhon," Loli replied, her systems ready.
The Leviathan advanced, a silent specter in the apocalypse, its new inhabitants now a cohesive force, a silent army. The journey had transformed everyone, and John, at its center, had become the catalyst for a new era of survival and power.